Fourteen juniors received book awards from various colleges May 30. The CIC receives about fifteen awards every spring and then works with counselors and teachers to find students who fit the bill of each specific award, career information coordinator Janice Marmor said.
Principal Alan Goodwin presented the students with the books in a ceremony in his office. Goodwin also gave the students five-dollar Chipotle gift cards.
“Each year, colleges send us books or awards, recognizing a student’s academic achievements and work beyond the academics,” Goodwin said. “It’s a recognition but it’s also an incentive to make students consider that particular university.”
Ben Bouvier received the Harvard Prize Book Award for a combination of excellence in academics and high character with achievement in other fields. Harvard gives out about 2,000 book awards annually to schools across the country. Though he was already considering Harvard, the award increased his level of interest, Bouvier said.
“I’m not sure if it means I have an advantage in admissions, but I’m excited they might be interested in me,” he said.
Other colleges, including Brandeis, University of Rochester and St. Lawrence, gave awards for social action and community service.
Andrea McDonald won the St. Lawrence award for demonstrating commitment to the community. However, her interest in the college did not change after receiving the award.
“I had never heard of the school before, and receiving a book for my accomplishments flattered me, but didn’t convince me to apply,” she said.
While the awards do not ensure admission, they do help students see their academic successes, Goodwin said.
“It’s not a guarantee that they will get in, but it is an honor,” he said. “It gives them a boost in confidence and raises their interest in that particular school.”
The following juniors also received book awards: Rachel Arneson, Jordan Chadwick, Ali Foreman, Aaron Gordon, Jenna Kress, Hanna Lee, Daniel Levine, Brendan Lobuglio, Azumo Nishimura, Jacob Rosenblum, Raphaella So, Cindy Wang.
